Meter



April s, 1927.

WITNESSES:

12623562 NL SMITHEY METER i Sheets-611%?. l

Original Filed May 23, 1916 April ,5, 192m 1,623,562

` .M SMH-HEY METER Original Filed Ma'y 2s, 1916 4 sheets-sheet 2 gef-.

*MJ/M? www Q4 A TTORNEYS April 5, 1927. 1,623,562

M` sMlTHEY METER original Filed May 23, 191@v 4 sheets-sheet s Q 6 @jl 6 y 6 mi 6 y 694./ `Il QQ d@ M Ir y K V u! i .J 62 7 7 47d/ i 4f@ 4? April. 5, 1927., 1,623,562

M. SMTHEY METER Original Filed May 25, 19,16 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARVIN SMITHEY, OF LAWRENCEVILLE, VIRGINIA.

METER.

Application filed May 23, 1916, Serial No. 99,344. Renewed May 25, 1922. Serial No. 563,675.

My invention relates to improvements in meters, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device having a plurality of odometers, i,ach odometer being associated with a particuiar feature connected vwith automobiles, motor vehicles, and the like, said odometers being driven simultaneously by a common driving means, and being capable of being disconnected from the common driving means and held out of engagement therewith at will. n

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which a relatively large number of odometers may be grouped together for simultaneous actuation in a small compass, so that the meter as a whole maybe very little lighter than the ordinary meters which contain a speedometer and odometers for the trips and season mileage.

Other' objects and advantages will appear in the following specilicat-ion, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in 'the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view ofthe device.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4 f ot' Figure 11. n

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5 5 of Figure 11. n

Figure 6 is a section along the line 6 6 of Figure 11.

Figure 7 is a detail view of one of the odometers.

Figure 8 is of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is of Figure 3.

Figure 19 is a section along the line 1(1 10 of Figure 3.

Figure 11 is a sectional view somewhatsiinilar to Figure 3, but showing the odometer drinn in elevation. v

Figure 'l2 is a section along the line 12 12 of Figure 11. I

In carrying out' my invention, I provide a casing 1 of the Shape best shown in Figures 3 and 1,1 having secured thereto a top 2 proa section along the line 8 8 a section along the line 9 9 vided with a large circular opening 3 and smaller openings t and 5. Disposed Within the opening 3 is a circular cap or face plater 6 which has a window 7 and is provided with a circumferential flange 8, see Figure 3, arranged to engage the wall of the open* ing 3. Overlying the iange 8 is a retaining device 9, which may be a split ring of Z- shaped cross section, whose purpose is to keep the plate in position, while at the saine time permitting the rotation of the plate around its central axis. The bottom portion of the plate 6 is provided with teeth 1U arranged in circular manner, and which constitutes a gear. y

Referring now particularly to Figure 3, it will be seen that I have provided within the casing 1, an upright 11 in which is journaled a small shaft 12. This shaft tits into the bore X of the shaft 13. The latter has a reduced portion 13X, and a further reduced portion 13Y, whose end is journaled in a bearing 14 in the casing 1. rlf'he shaft 12 turns loosely with respect to the shaft 13. Keyed or otherwise iirmly secured to the shaft 13, is a cone-shaped retaining member 15 having an annular fiange 16, and a circular flange 17 at right angles thereto, the flange 16 being arranged to enter the circular opening or recess 18 of the odometer bearing drum 19, and the lange17 abutting the drum in the manner clearly shown in Figure 3, and being secured to it by means of screws 20 or in any other suitable manner.

As will be seen from Figure 5, the drinn 19 is provided with a series of bores extending parallel with the axis of the shafts 13, 13X, and 13y, these bores being shown at 2l. ll'Che bores do not extend entirely through the main body portionof the drum 19, but terminate short thereof. Small bores 22 forni a continuation of the larger bores 21.

Disposed in each of the bores 21 is an odometer. Each of these odometers consists of a casing 23 in which is journaled a shaft 24 bearing odometer wheels 2'. Each odoir.- eter casing is'provided with a window 26 through which the number wheels may be viewed, see Figure 5. In view of the fact that certain mechanisms associated with these odometers are alike for all the odometers, a description of one will sutiice for all. The shaft 2f of each odometer has feathered to it a gear 27, which gear is slidable with respect to the shaft, being moved by a sleeve 23 Fig. bearing a flanged collar 29 which engages the hub ot the gear 2T so as to permit the rotation ot the gear, but to cause the movement o't` the gear along` the shaft 24, as the sleeve 2S is moved. The shatt 2li has a reduced portionia, leaving a head 24,1?, at the end ot which is a clutch member 241C. Ehe interior ot the sleeve is provided with a tlange 28X, which is normally pressed upon by a spring 30. y'lhis' tends to torce "the sleeve Q8, and hence the gear 2"?, toward the lett in Figure 7, or close up against the casing L5. The sleeve an arm projecting Yfrom it laterally, 'which arm has a spring pressed locking pin The sleeye and the gear 2T may be pulled outwardly. thatis to the right in Figurey T, by taking hold' ot the arm 3l and moving it to the right, 'against the tension ot' the spring 30. 1When the pin 32 clears the headel", it will drop in bel hind it, that is to say, in the slot 2i, and will retain the sleeve and tlie gear in their: shifted positions, until the pin is pulledoutwardly, whereupon the lspring 3() will return these parts to their normal positions.

On the opposite end oi" the drum iroin the bore 18, is an inwardly extending bore 33 3 ot the same diameter' as the bore. 18, and communicating with the latter by a een# tral opening 234-. A housing 55 yhas 'a reduced cylindrical portion 36 which enters the bore 33 and is 'provided with a further reduced portion 3T whichenters the central opening 34. The housing 35 has a tubnlar portion 3S) .surrounding'an elongated hub 40, ot' the gear el. The hub and gear are keyed to the kshaft 13". The hub 4Q is provided with a worm 41X which is arranged toengage a gear e2 journaled at #lll on a brackethaving a threaded reduced portion @t5 by means oit which the bracketmay be secured to the housing and the latter may besel cured to the body portion ot the drum 194 means ot the nut etti.

Disposed on the exterior ot th-e reduced portion ot thehoiising, is a'gear ring which is provided on its external periphery with teeth 1, Fig. at and on its inner edge with teeth #l-T". The teeth 'sl-7" engage the portion 3G of the housing, the latter lforming a bearing 'tor the gear ringas stated, see Figures (S and 8. The housing is provided with an opening i8 by means ot' which the gear l2 may be brought into engagement with the teeth 4571 of the gear ring. The outer row of teeth eti ot' the gear 'ring are in nies'h with all ot the gears 27 ot the odometers. The gear 2, see Figure 8, has its teethy .set in spiral rows, so that as theworm L1 1 turns the gear e2 is driven, and in turn drives the gear ring 4T. i

Disposed within the casing near the upper part thereof is a longitudinally .slidable sha'lit 50`Fig. 3 upon which is mounteda thumb wheel 51. One end 'ot the sha-ft is journaled in the casing and theY otherion al bracket 52. spring 53 is disposed between the end of the bracket and the thumb wheel, and tends normally to keep the wh-eel in the position shown in Figure 3. At the end ot the shaft is a clutclr member 5st, which is arranged to engage the clutch member 2% of any ot the odometers when the latter are brought int-o engaging position, as will be explained later. i

At 55 1 have shown a shaft whose outer end'is arranged'to be connected with any suitable driving mechanism, as tor instance, the flexible driving `mechanism connecting the wheel of the vehicleiwith vthe ordinary speedometer. This shaft 55 is provided with gear 5G which is in mesh with t-he gear e1.

'The specilic constructionot the individual odo-meters forms noy partv ot' the present invention. prefer, however, to have odometers ot' the type whose wheels are turned successively to recordV the properniileage when the -sha'tt si is 'turned in one direction, and whose number wheels are brought back to Zero, or may be reset by the reverse movement ot the shalft. The Zero setting means also forms no part of the invention. i

vF rom the foregoing description of the various parts ot the device, the operation thereo'tl may bereadily understood. i As will be seen from Figures 3 and 11, the druni 19 is prolonged atl)A`z and legirendsl)`y are disposed opposite the various openings 26 designating the leature with which the odometer; is associated. The same legends appear at 6X on 'the face plate (i Fig. 1Q Disposed between the window T and the drum a plate 65, having an opening GG ail 'anged toiregister with one of the legends 195' and its associated opening 26' for viewing the numerals of the odometer. The plate also has an opening: 6T for viewing' the speedometer wheel.

Let us assume that we are to record the mileage of extra tire number two. The upper part of the tace plate G is revolved by hand until the legend Extra No. Q, coincides with'the arrow in Figure 1. This rotates the gear GS, see Figures 3, 6, and l1, which is secured to thedrum 19 by means of pins 69 being spaced from the drum by means ot'sleeves 70 through which the pins pass, see Figures 3 and 11. The drum is therefore carried around until the odometer corresponding to Extra tire No. 2, comes into position before the window G6. Now by reaching through the opening 4 and moving the arm B1 to the' right, the gear 27, see Figure i, of the odometer corresponding to extra tire No. 2 will be moved out of mesh with the teeth 47 of the gear ring il?. Now by pushing the'thumb wheel 51 toward the left in Figures l and 3, the clutch 54 will be brought into engagement with 'the clutch 24, so that the odometer shaft 9A may' be reversed to reset the odometer to zero. As before explained, the spring pin 32 will retain the gear 27 out of engagement with the teeth 4" of the gear ring 47, until the pin is released. As soon as the pin is released, the gear 27 will again engage the teeth of the gear ring 47. The drive shaft communicates motion to the gear 4l, see Figure 3, through the medium of the gear 56. The gear 4l turns the shaft lSY upon Which the Worm 4lX is mounted, thus turning the gear 42,'rotating the gear ring 47, and driving all of the odometers simultaneously through the engagement of their gears 27 with the gear ring. The mileage of the extra tire may, therefore, be accurately determined.

Similarly any of the odometers may be brought into position to be reset or disengaged, and each odometer may be disenr` gaged permanently. It will be observed that, as the drum 19 is turned, the arm 3l which is secured to the sleeve 28, must be held in a radial position with respect to the axis of the drum, and to this end the sleeve 28 is made flat on that side facing the inner rim of the gear 68, see Figure 6. This prevents the rotation of the sleeve 28 but permits its longitudinal movement for the purpose of disengaging the odometer.

In connection with the odometers I may provide a speedometer. In Figure 11 I have shown the shaft 13 as being provided with a wheel hearing a magnet consisting of a magnetized split ring. This magnet is adjacent to an inwardly extending ange 72 carried by a Wheel 7 3 secured to the shaft l2. The latter is provided With a spring 74, one end of Which is secured to the standard l1. The periphery of the Wheel 72 bears numerals indicating miles per hour, which may be viewed through the Window G7.

The revolution of the wheel 70 and its ymagnet 71 will cause a magnetic drag on the flange 72 of the wheel 73, and will thus cause. the turning of the latter against the tension of the spring 74, a distance proportional to the speed of the revolution of the magnet, thus indicating the speed in miles per hour at the Window 67.

I claim l, A meter comprising a. casing having a reading opening, a shaft disposed Within the casing, means for rotating the shaft, a support disposed within the casing and rotatable with respect to the axis of the shaft, a plurality of odometers carried by the support, ay worm carried by the shaft, a Worm wheel in mesh With said Worm, a gear ring mounted on said support for rotation around its central axis, the teeth of the Worm wheel being arranged in helical form to constitute a Worm and arranged to engage the gea ring for rotating the latter, and means carried by each odometer and arranged to be engaged by said gear ring for causing the simultaneous movement of the odometers when the gear ring is turned.

2. A meter comprising a casing having a reading opening, a shaft disposed within the casing, means for rotating the shaft, a drum disposed Within the casing and rotatable about the axis of the shaft, a Worm carried by the shaft, a Worm Wheel arranged to engage said Worm, said Worm Wheel being disposed ivithin the drum, the teeth of the Worm Wheel being arranged in helical form to constitute a Worm, a gear ring rotatably carried by the drum, the axis of the worm wheel being in the plane of the gear ring, said gear ring having teeth on itsinternal and on its external edges, said drum having an opening to permit the engagement of the teeth of the Worm Wheel with the internal 'teeth of the gear ring, a plurality of odometers carried by the drum, each of said odometers being provided with a gear Wheel arranged to engage the teeth on the exterior edge of the gear ring whereby the odometers are driven simultaneously.

3. In a meter, a casing, a central shafttherefor, means for rotating said central shaft, a drum rotatable around the axis of said central shaft, a plurality of odometers carried by said drum, the shaft of each of said odometers being provided with a gear, a common driving gear in engagement With the individual gears of said odometers for driving the latter simultaneously, a cylindrical housing provided with an opening arranged to form a bearing for said common driving gear, said common driving gear having teeth on its inner bearing surface, a combined Worm Wheel and gear carried by said housing and arranged to engage the inner teeth of said common driving gear, and a Worm carried by said shaft and disposed within said housing for communicating the motion of the shaft to the combined Worm and gear.

4. In a meter, a central shaft, a drum rotatable about the axis of the Vshaft and having an opening, a plurality of `odometers carried by the drum, and means for transmitting the power of the shaft to the odometers for driving them, through said opening. e

5. A meter comprisinga casing having a single reading opening, ai shaft disposed `within the casing, means for rotating the shaft, a drum disposed Within the casing, the axis of the drum being coincident with the axis of the shaft, said drum having an opening, a plurality of odometers carried by the drum on the exterior thereof, means asso- Cil ciated with all the odometers for actuating transmission means to the odometer actuating means.

6. In a meter, a shaft, a drum rotatable about the axis of the shaft and having an opening', a. plurality of odonieters lCarried by the drum on the outer surface thereof` a common driving member for all ot' said odometers having` a portion arranged to extend Vthroutgh said opening, and means disposed Within the drum for transmitting power from the shaft to said common driving` member.

7. In a meter, a. shaft, a drum rotatable about the axis of the shaft and havinl an opening, a plurality of odometers carried by the drum on the outer surface thereof, a gear ring rotatably disposed on said drum and having a portion arranged to extend through said ope-ning, and means disposed within the drum for transmitting power from the shaft to said gear ring', said gear ring being arranged to engage all of said odometers to drive them simultaneously.

MARVIN SMITHEY. 

